Why breath matters

When you slow down and become aware of your breath, you shift from living automatically to living intentionally. Modern research shows how conscious breathing practices — such as those used in yoga (Prāṇāyāma) — trigger physiological changes that help us relax, focus and heal.

For example, slow, deliberate breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest & digest” branch) which reduces stress, lowers anxiety and supports emotional balance.

Another study found that an 8-week yoga program improved respiratory muscle strength and overall lung function — reminding us that breathing deeply is not just a metaphor in yoga, but a tangible path to vitality.



 

The breath on your mat — and beyond

On the mat, noticing your breath means you slow your pace, you soften your shoulders, you let the pose unfold instead of forcing it. You feel the subtle expansion of your ribs, the slight lift of your spine, the moment when inhale becomes exhale and you meet yourself again.

Off the mat, this same conscious breath becomes your anchor: before a meeting, during a moment of overwhelm, in bed at night. It reminds you: you are here. You are alive. You are capable.

How to practise with awareness

1. Begin seated or lying down, with a gentle inhale through the nose, allowing your belly to rise slowly.
2. Exhale fully, noticing how your ribs and belly soften.
3. After a few minutes, invite a slightly longer exhale than inhale — this simple shift, according to research, enhances heart-rate variability and signals safety to your nervous system.
4. Use your breath in movement: when you flow in a posture, guide the inhale to expansion, the exhale to release. Let the breath move you — rather than you chasing the breath.



The invitation from Flow & Glow

We invite you to call your attention back to the breath — the subtle, constant companion you already have, yet so often overlook.

In each class, in each moment, give yourself permission to breathe fully, to flow gently, and to glow with the energy that arises from being grounded in your body and your breath.

Because when you honour the breath, you honour yourself.

And in that simple act you may find more stillness, more strength, and more presence than you ever realised.

Flow and Glow Yoga